Sophomore Planning Guide

 

 

 

 

 

Williston High School

PO Box 1407

502 West Highland Drive

Williston, ND 58801

701-572-0967

 

2005-06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Educational/Career Planning Guide for Sophomores

Williston High School Guidance Department

Mrs. Wick, Counselor

Ms. Koperski, Counselor

2005-06

September – January

 

ü      Review and refine your career choices.  Determine your post-secondary training needs such as college, apprenticeship, military, etc.

ü      Plan and participate in school and community activities (examples are extra curricular, work, volunteer experiences)

ü      Use the counseling office to find more information about post-secondary schools and career opportunities.

ü      PLAN Assessment on October 19, 2005. Practice PLAN test the week of September 19.

ü      Develop a resume and update it regularly for future scholarships, jobs and school applications.

 

January – May

 

ü      Register for your junior year in high school by selecting courses that continue to lead to your career goal.

ü      Decide if you are interested in dual enrollment with Williston State College.

ü      Do a scholarship search and apply for any that may apply to sophomores.

ü      Investigate opportunities in summer school, summer workshops, and employment.

 

 

 

Services offered by the Counseling Office

ü      Educational and career planning

ü      Personal and social counseling

 

Opportunities for Sophomores

ü      North Dakota Leadership Seminar sponsors a leadership opportunity. NDLS will enable one sophomore from WHS to attend a conference in Bismarck with 150 other North Dakota sophomores.

 

Post-secondary Planning Activities

Choices Planner and Career Explorer program – available now in school and at your home computer. Get the log in and password from the counselors

ü      Interest Inventory

ü      Occupational Information

ü      Undergraduate School Information

ü      Financial Aid/Scholarship Information

 

College and Military Representatives Visits

ü      Recruiters visit WHS on a regular basis.  Check with the counselors to see when their next visit will be.  You are able to visit with recruiters during your study hall or after you school day is complete.

 

United State Military Academy or ROTC

ü      Begin the application process by the second semester of your junior year.

 

North Dakota Job Service     774-7900

          Job Service Web Page – www.state.nd.us/jsnd

          America’s Job Bank address – www.ajb.dni.us

 

ü      Current list of full-time and part-time jobs

ü      Assistance with employment applications

ü      Internet access and assistance with job searching and career information on the internet

ü      One – on – one career counseling

ü      Resume writing assistance

ü      Interviewing techniques and practice

ü      Job search strategies

ü      Information on career resources

ü      Labor Market information

ü      Information of Job Coprs

 

Assessments

 

PLAN

Williston High School makes available the PLAN to sophomores in October. The PLAN is a national standardized test offered once a year to sophomores.  The PLAN measures reading and math skills, and includes an interest inventory.  It provides information on your academic skills as compared to other college-bound students.  This is a preliminary to the ACT which is the college entrance exam of most post-secondary schools throughout the United States. This will be given to all sophomores on October 19. Sophomores will be a part of a study and will take the PLAN during the week of September 19th – this will be great practice for the assessment in October.

 

Recommendation Letters

When requesting a letter of recommendation from a teacher, friend or employer, be sure to:

 

ü      Fill out the student information worksheet as completely as possible. Add a separate sheet if needed.

ü      Think of an individual who knows you well.

ü      Make an appointment to ask the individual to write a letter of recommendation for you.  Plan ahead to meet your timeline and allow 10 to 14 days for the completion of the letter.  DO NOT assume the letter will be completed if you leave the request in his/her mailbox or drop it off at their desk.  Make sure you make personal contact with the individual.

ü      At the time of the appointment, give the individual specific dates and directions for dispersment of the completed recommendation.  If appropriate, provide stamped envelopes.

ü      Write a thank you note to the person who wrote your letter of recommendation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Information Sheet

 

Student’s name ____________________ Date __________

 

Date letter is needed ___________________ Cumulative GPA/Rank ____

 

Future Goals:

 

 

 

 

Special interests, hobbies, talents and how you have pursued them:

 

 

 

 

Most important activities at school:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Describe yourself and provide relevant information that will be of benefit to the writer:

 

 

 

 

List any special awards or recognitions you have received:

 

 

 

What community service project(s) have you been involved with? Describe your experience: